How we do research communications at PEAK Urban, presented at the PEAK Retreat, Bangalore 18 January 2019

1. Research
Communications at
PEAK Urban
Bangalore AGM
18 January 2019

2. Donor Commitment :
Engagement Activities on Researchfish - 1
Enter a short title for this activity for reference purposes (e.g. School Visit (Lincoln),
Interview for national news, Patient group workshop).
What was the engagement activity? We are interested in any activity intended to
communicate your research beyond your normal peer group and which involved you
or a member of your team, regardless of whether this was presenting to or otherwise
engaging directly with an audience *
Please estimate how many people this activity reached. *
What was the geographical 'reach' of this activity (e.g. was the audience from your
local institution, drawn from attendees across the region, nation, or international)? *
Who was the primary / other audiences engaged with? *

3. In which year did this activity take place? For activities that
have occurred every year or in multiple years, you can make
multiple selections here. *
Briefly describe the activity, please include the intended
purpose and any outcomes or impacts that have arisen from it
if known. For example, "60 pupils attended for a school visit to
the research organisation, which sparked questions and
discussion afterwards, and the school reported increased
interest in related subject areas."
What do you consider was the most significant
outcome/impact of this activity?
Engagement Activities on Researchfish - 2

4. • Ongoing editorial involvement in communications strategy
• Highlighting and leveraging the interdisciplinary nature of the
research
• The Word Lab has helped produce policy papers and briefs, case
studies, public writing such as data stories, photo stories, op-eds,
using research and field-based material.
• 'crossover writing', which has facilitated creative expression such as
poetry, posters, scripts for plays and podcasts.
• Look up Paul Salopek, who has been doing the 'Out of Eden' walk, a
seven-year walk along one of the routes taken by early humans to
migrate out of Africa. Using different types of media and media
channels, he is documenting his work beautifully. While there are
numerous blog posts, they are not disconnected or disjointed.
Some ideas from IIHS

5. • Participatory exercise (group sigh…)
Who do you want to reach?

6. • Your experiences?
• Some big crazy ideas of your own – (a public
engagement project/ a participatory video
project/ a digital diary/ a data visualisation
animation/ a podcast?)
Communicating your research

7. • Your own communications colleagues will be first
port-of-call
• We can provide advice on communications plans
• Website , social media, videos, media support
• We will foster relationships with a global public
concerned about cities through city-focused
journalism and digital platforms such as:
– Guardian Cities, This is Place), Next City as well as
platforms such as The City Fix, Ideas For India, From
Poverty to Power, World Bank Sustainable Cities
Blog. , World Bank Sustainable Communities Blog
How can we help?

8. • Subscribe to Fast Track Impact online (free) or
buy The Research Impact Handbook
• LSE Impact Blog
• Twitter – follow urbanists, INGOS, other
academics, SDG influencers, city media/
journalists
Resources

9. And remember …